WASHINGTON D.C. – The Republican Governors Association announced today $63.2 million raised in all of 2017, including $27.2 million raised in the final six months of the year, setting a new fundraising record that significantly eclipses the $52.5 million raised in 2013, the last comparable year. This fundraising success allows the RGA to strongly support incumbent Republican governors, target key Democrat-held governorships, and elect a new class of Republican governors in 36 gubernatorial elections scheduled to occur less than 10 months from now.

U.S. Rep. Diane Black, who cited a scheduling conflict in declining an invitation to join other gubernatorial candidates at a Tuesday evening forum on education issues, attended a fundraiser instead, reports The Tennessean.

An effort called “Vol Means All” is underway to fully fund operations at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville’s LGBT student center without government support, according to Out and About in Nashville. The first official fundraiser will be Feb. 1 in Nashville with UT-Knoxville Chancellor Beverly Davenport on hand.

At least 18 state legislators, leadership PACs or party caucuses held fundraising events just ahead of today’s 2018 opening session of the General Assembly, reports the Times Free Press, basing the estimate on lobbyists keeping count of invitations received.

When the session begins at noon today, a blackout on fundraising begins that will continue until the end of the session or May 15, whichever comes first (and most think the session will end in April this year).

John Anderson of Bell Buckle, a retired teacher and unsuccessful candidate for the 4th Congressional District nomination in 2014, says he has filed a complaint with the U.S. Office of Special Counsel that accuses former state Sen. Jim Tracy of violating the federal “Hatch Act” by hosting a fundraiser for state Senate candidate Shane Reeves.

U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn says she raised $2 million for her U.S. Senate campaign in the fourth quarter of 2017 while her fellow Republican rival, former U.S. Stephen Fincher, says he collected $1.45 million.

Politico has a list of Vice President Mike Pence’s “first round of political contributions” through a political action committee he has established — including donations of $5,400 each to six Tennessee members of the U.S. House – Reps. Marsha Blackburn, Diane Black, John J. “Jimmy” Duncan Jr., Scott DesJarlais, Chuck Fleischmann and Phil Roe.

Blackburn is running for the Senate instead of reelection to the House, but money donated to her House campaign can be switched into the Senate race. Black is running for governor and, under applicable rules, she cannot shift money from her congressional campaign account into her run for a state office.

Duncan, of course, is retiring and not running for reelection in the 2nd Congressional District.

The only Tennessee Republican congressman not on the list is freshman Rep. David Kustoff of the 8th Congressional District.

Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett led candidates to succeed U.S. Rep. John J. “Jimmy” Duncan Jr. in collecting donations but state Rep. Jimmy Matlock has more cash on hand for his campaign, according to financial disclosures filed with the Federal Election Commission this week.

Duncan, who announced his retirement on July 31, still has far more campaign money than all his would-be successors combined with a reported balance of $917,303. The veteran congressman reported $52,500 in contributions received during the past quarter and continued using campaign funds to pay family members — a practice that inspired some controversy earlier this year.